Gujarat elections 2017: Why am I 'Neech' because I'm a poor Gujarati? asks Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday started campaigning for 93 seats which goes to polls in the second phase of Gujarat election.

Addressing a rally in Nikol, Modi took on Congress leaders, including Mani Shankar Aiyar, for using foul language against him. "They have not called me 'neech' for the first time yesterday. Mrs Sonia Gandhi and her family members have used it too. Why am I 'neech' - because I was born poor? Because I am of a lower caste? Because I am a Gujarati? Is that why they hate me?" Modi asked.

"What did Anand Sharma say? 'PM Modi is mentally unstable'. A Congress leader re-tweeted such an offensive tweet about me that I cannot even say it. What did Digvijaya Singh tweet about me? Evidently, one Gujarati, a person born into a poor family has troubled them a lot," he said.

"Divijaya Singh said Modi Sarkar is like Rakshas Raaj and Modi is Ravana. Pramod Tiwari, who headed the Congress in UP, said Modi is in the list of Hitler, Mussolini and Gaddafi. Day and night the Congress has abused me. I keep quiet only because my priority is work," the PM said.

"One more Congress leader called me a monkey. Jairam Ramesh compared me to Bhasmasur. Beni Prasad Verma called me a mad dog. He also said we won't let this mad dog win. Ghulam Nabi Azad said I am Gangu Teli. Are these the kind of things we should say in public life?" he said.

"Imran Masood, who they gave a ticket to, he said we will cut Modi into pieces. Renuka Chowdhury called me a virus. She said I bring Namonitis. I don't even want to get started on what Gujarat Congress leaders have been calling me," Modi said.

''After travelling across Saurashtra, Kutch, South Gujarat and North Gujarat I am now in Ahmedabad. What I am seeing is extraordinary. It is clear that BJP will emerge victorious. The population of our middle class is rising and so is the strength of our middle class. This section of society aspires to progress at a quick pace,'' Modi said.

''Why should it be that only malls can remain open for long durations. We ensured that small shops can also be open for long- this gives economic opportunities to several people,'' Modi in Nikol.

He further said that,''Recently there was an attack in Amarnath. We ensured that all those who perpetrated this attack were punished by our armed forces.''

Meanwhile, polling for the first phase of 89 seats will be held tomorrow, while the second phase voting will be held next Thursday. Votes will be counted on December 18.

OneIndia News